Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/253

 Board, but when the Ten Eunuchs began to control the government he gave up office and retired into the country to Hsüchou. Liu Pei had known him before, had consulted him on many occasions and greatly respected him.

Liu Pei was glad that he had remembered this man and without loss of time, in company with Ch‘ên Têng, he went to his house to ask him to draft this letter, which he generously consented to do.

Sun Ch‘ien was entrusted with the task of delivery and set out at once. Shao read it and considered the matter long before speaking. “Liu Pei destroyed my brother and I ought not to help him, but out of consideration for the writer of this letter I must.”

Whereupon he assembled his officers to consider an attack upon Ts‘ao Ts‘ao.

T‘ien Fêng said, “Do not raise an army. The people are worn out and the granaries are empty with these constant wars. Let us rather report the recent victory of Kungsun Tsan to the Throne. If that does not reach the Emperor, then memorialise that Ts‘ao Ts‘ao is hindering the government. Then raise an army: occupy Liyang, assemble a fleet in Honan, prepare weapons, send out your various divisions and within three years you will win all round.”

The adviser Shên P‘ei replied, “I do not agree. The military genius of our illustrious lord having overcome the hordes of the north, to dispose of Ts‘ao is as simple as turning one’s hand; it is not a matter of months.”

Chü Shou said, “Victory is not always to the many. Ts‘ao Ts‘ao’s discipline is excellent; his soldiers are brave and well drilled. He will not sit down quietly waiting to be surrounded as Kungsun Tsan did. Now you abandon the intention to inform the Throne of our success, which I find a good plan, but you intend to send out an army without any valid excuse. Our lord should not do that.”

Then followed adviser Kuo T‘u, “You are wrong. No expedition against Ts‘ao Ts‘ao can lack excuse. But if our master would take the chance now offering itself of coming into his own, he will accede to the request in the letter and ally himself with Liu Pei for the destruction of Ts‘ao. This would win the approval of heaven and the affections of the people, a double blessing.”

Thus the four advisers differed and wrangled and Yüan Shao could not decide which to follow. Then there came two others, Hsü Yu and Hsün Shên, and, seeing them, Shao said, “You two have wide experience, how would you decide?”

The two made their obeisance and Yüan Shao said, “A letter from Chêng the President has arrived, counselling me to support Liu Pei in an attack on Ts‘ao Ts‘ao. Now am I to send an army or not send an army?”